Apparatus for making top and bottom blind stitched facing

ABSTRACT

It is already well known that by catching only the inner fold of a facing when stitching the same to a fabric, the outer fold of said facing will then mask this stitching; the stitching of this sewing technique being known as so-called blind stitching, i.e., stitching which is not visible on the display side of the fabric but is visible only on the underside or reverse side of the fabric. This technique is improved herein by using both top and bottom blind stitched facing, each masking, as it traditionally does, the blind stitching on the side of the base fabric to which it is attached, and thus cooperating with each other to provide a combined arrangement in which there is a total masking of the blind stitching.

itetll @tates atent [1 1 Eoser 1 1 APPARATUS FOR MAKHNG TOP ANll) BQTTQM BLllND STllTCHElDt FACTNG [22] Filed: lFelb. 5, 11973 [21] Appl. No; 329,832

[51] int. Cl 1105b 35/06 [58] Field oi Search 112/140, 141, 136, 137, 112/138,213, 176

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,320,457 11/1919 De Voe 112/140X 2,025,531 12/1935 Seaman 112/140 X 2,130,198 9/1938 Seaman 112/140 X 3,183 869 5/1965 Astrupgaard et a1. 112/140 Primary Examiner1-l. Hampton l-iunter Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bauer & Amer [5 7] ABSTRACT It is already well known that by catching only the inner fold of 21 facing when stitching the same to a fabric, the outer fold of said facing will then mask this stitching; the stitching of this sewing technique being known as so-called blind stitching, i.e., stitching which is not visible on the display side of the fabric but is visible only on the underside or reverse side of the fabric. This technique is improved herein by using both top and bottom blind stitched facing, each masking, as it traditionally does, the blind stitching on the side of the base fabric to which it is attached, and thus cooperating with each other to provide a combined arrangement in which there is a total masking of the blind stitching.

1 Claim, 10 Drawing Figures APPARATUS lfflllilt MAEQING Tflllf AND lEtDTTQFb il BLEND STllTCHElU TEACHING The present invention relates to sewing machines, and more particularly to a sewing machine adapted to form and attach blind stitched facings, such as braid, stripes, trimming and the like, along the edge of a piece of goods.

It is already well known, as for example according to the Seaman US. Pat. No. 2,2S,3ll, how to use a doubleneedle sewing machine to sew the aforesaid facings to and along the edge of a fabric with an invisible or socalled blind stitch. Actually, however, heretofore, the blind stitching was not totally masked by the facing, since it was visible on the underside or back of the fabric piece.

Broadly, it is an object to provide blind stitched facings, and sewing apparatus for forming and applying the same, in which the sewing attachment is totally hidden or invisible. Specifically, the within invention contemplates overcoming the foregoing and other shortcomings of the prior art by attaching, in unison, top and bottom facings with the same blind stitching such that the presence of such stitching, viewed from either side of the fabric, is effectively masked by the facing in position on that side of the fabric.

The machine or apparatus aspects demonstrating objects and advantages of the present invention includes structure strategically located both above and below the fabric being sewn, i.e., forming part of the presserfoot and feed dog respectively, which structure supports an edge in each of first and second folded arrangements of facings in a horizontal orientation to, and in close position to, the vertical plane of the sewing needles. This advantageously presents these two facings to the sewing action of the needles so that these sewing needles, during sewing operation, penetrate only the inner fold of each of the facings when completing the sewing attachment thereto to opposite sides of the base fabric. The upper fold of each facing, as it traditionally does, thus masks the blind stitching on the side of the base fabric to which it is attached, and since there is according to the present invention both a top and a bottom blind stitched facing, these two facings thus cooperate to provide an arrangement in which there is total masking of the blind stitching.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l diagramatically illustrates the needle and feed dog movements of a typical needle-feed sewing machine embodying the blind stitching structure of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the blind stitch sewing operation of said needle-feed sewing machine;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the construction of a feed dog for the needle-feed sewing machine hereof which contributes to applying blind stitched bottom facing according to the present invention;

FIGS. d and 5 are respectively plan and rear elevational views of the feed dog;

FlG. d is a side elevational view, partially in section, illustrating the feed dog in its assembled condition within the throat place and also the manner in which this sub-assembly cooperates with the sewing machine presser-foot during sewing attachment of blind stitched top and bottom facing material to a fabric positioned therebetween;

iFlGS. 7A and 71B are related plan views which illustrate, by comparison, the feeding movement of the feed dog relative to the throat plate during a typical sewing interval; and

FllGS. and 9 are each front sectional views of blind stitched facing to a fabric; FlG. S illustrating the finished product according to the present invention consisting of top and bottom facings blind stitched along an edge of a fabric, and FIG. 9 illustrating a prior art product having only a top facing blind stitched to a fabric.

it is already well documented in the patent literature, as for example in the Seaman US. Pat. No. 2,625,531, how to blind stitch a facing to a fabric. Examplifying this prior art product is the product illustrated in FIG. 9.. Said product consists of a base fabric 10 and lace edge 18 having a facing material 12, in the folding form illustrated, blind stitched, as at T4 and lid, along and in covering relation over the fabric raw edge llll. The folded arrangement 12 includes a decorative outer fabric 2 D and optionally may be used with an inner stiffening strip or tape 22. The folded arrangement is, of course, to mask or cover the rough or raw peripheral edges of the fabric 2d by having these edges folded under the main body thereof, otherwise the use of the facing 12 to cover the fabric raw edge llll would introduce more problems than it solves.

The blind stitching at M and Te completes the enhanced appearance that it is desired to achieve with the facing T2 in so far as said stitching is deposited only through the inner ply which is in contact with the fabric MI) and its lace extension ll8. Thus, the blind stitching M and lib for the prior art product illustrated in FllG. J is visible only if the undside of the fabric W is exposed, 'i.e., the side remote from the facing 12.

The improved product according to the present invention, illustrated in lFllG. ff, can be viewed from either side of the base fabric lltll without exhibiting the presence of the blind stitching l4 and lid which secures the facing advantageously along and in covering relation over the fabric edge ill, and thus in a location where it is most likely that movement in the fabric edge 11 will expose the underside of the fabric 10 in addition to the opposite normal display side thereof. This is achieved by utilizing blind stitching 14 and lid which again penetrates only the inner ply of a two-ply arrangement, but in this instance since there are two arrangements of facing material 12 and 13 on opposite sides of the fabric W, the overall effect is a complete or total masking of the stitches 11d, 16. As illustrated, the arrangements 12, 13 optically may each include an inner stiffening strip or tape 22, 23.

in FlG. 2, to which reference is now made, it is illustrated how the blind stitching 14 and 116 is applied to the fabric lit) to achieve the novel product of FIG. 8.. In this regard, since the novel product of FIG. 8 includes the blind stitched top facing 12, the same prior art apparatus for providing this portion of the invention can and is advantageously used as part of the apparatus aspects of the invention. Specifically, the sewing machine, according to the present invention, like the sewing machine in the referred to Seaman US. Pat. No. 2,025,531, includes a sewing machine head 24 having a pair of needles 26 in depending relation therefrom. In its usual operative position adjacent the pair of needles 26 is a presser-foot 28 which includes a triangular body 30 which, by presenting a forwardly disposed edge 32 adjacent the vertical plane of penetration of the needles 26, is effective in causing placement of stitching 14 and 16 in its blind location in which it penetrates only through the folded under peripheral edges 34 of the fabric 20, but not through the remaining central portion thereof. Although this prior art technique should be well understood from the referred to Seaman patent and other patent literature, for completeness sake, this prior art technique will be briefly explained using FIGS. 2 and 6. 7

Decorative facing material 20, in strip form, is threaded through guides 33 and enters, together with the tape 22, into a folder 36 which, in a well understood manner, is effective in causing the folding of the peripheral edges 34 about the tape 22 and inwardly upon the central portion of the strip 20. This foldedarrangement 12, oriented with the peripheral edges 34 uppermost, is threaded around the edge 32 and under the presser food body 30. As best illustrated in FIG. 6, the strategic location of the edge 32 with respect to the vertical penetrating plane of the needles 26 is such that the needles, during descending movement, are just clear of and thus avoid penetrating the medial portion of the facing fabric which is in physical contact against the edge 32. Instead, the needles 26 selectively penetrate only the infolded peripheral edges 34 and, in a well understood manner, deposit stitching through that which they penetrate to complete the sewing attachment thereof to the base fabric 10 and to its lace strip 19.

As already indicated, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided, in addition to the top blind stitched facing 12, a bottom blind stitched arrangement 13. Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, the bottom arrangement 13 similarly includes a stripof decorative material 21 fed through folder guides 35 to join with a stiffening tape 23, but this time on the reverse or underside of the fabric strip 21. Materials 21, 23 are fed into a folder 37 to achieve the inward folding of the marginal edges 35 of the fabric strip 21 about the tape 23. In addition, as generally illustrated in FIG. 6. and as will be described in detail subsequently, the arrangement 13 is threaded initially from the rear and then in reverse direction through the sewing apparatus. The resulting reverse curvature is then provided with an advantageous location transverse to the vertical plane of the sewing needles 26, in a location beneath the base fabric 10, and in close position thereto. Thus, arrangement 13, like top facing arrangement 12, is similarly folded about a blind-stitch supporting edge 33, in this instance formed on the sewing machine feed dog 38 and thus beneath the fabric 10.

Arrangement 13, as illustrated in FIG. 6, moves to the rear, together with the fabric 10 during the normal sewing interval of operation of the sewing machine portion of the fabric 21, which is in direct contact with the edge 33, and instead penetrate the remaining portion of the arrangement 13, namely the inwardly folded peripheral edges 35 of said facing fabric 21.

Reference is now made specifically to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 7A, 7B in conjunction with FIG. 6 for a detailed description of the construction of, and the manner in which the feed dog 38 effectively presents and handles the facing material 13 during the sewing attachment thereof to the underside of the fabric 10. Specifically, feed dog'38 includes a body 40, which will be understood to be attached in a well understood manner to a drive mechanism which urges the feed dog 38 through feeding movement during a typical interval of sewing operation of the stitch depositing mechanism 24, 26 of the sewing machine hereof. Formed along the upper portion of the body 40 are four rows of fabricgripping teeth 42-45, inclusive. As best illustrated in FIG. 5, a channel 46 is left beneath the middle rows of teeth 43, 44 into which channel the arrangement 13 is initially threaded. The opposite end of channel 46 communicates with the conventionally provided needle openings 48 and 50 of the feed dog 38. These needle holes 48, 50 are in this instance, however, additionally provided with a connecting slot 52 which cooperates therewith to thereby present a combined opening which, as is best illustrated in FIG. 4, is transversely oriented in spanning relation across the medial portion of the feed dog 38 and thus provides an exit opening for the facing arrangement 13. At this point in the description, it is also convenient to observe that the previously noted blindstitch supporting edge 33 is the bottom edge of a ve'rtically oriented wall 54 which bounds the previously noted composite openings 48, 50 and 52.

As shown in FIG. 3, the penetrating stroke of the needles 26, as illustrated for both of these needles by the reference lines designated 56, carries each needle through its-cooperating needle hole 48 and 50 and on opposite sides of the feed dog body 40. At the bottom of their descent, the sewing thread carried by the needles 26 is looped with the bobbin thread, thus completing the formation of a stitch in the materials being sewn. Since the descending path of eachneedle is past the wall 54 and thus past the strategically located edge 33 thereof, this results in the selective penetration of the needles through what is ultimately a hidden, i.e. not visible, portion of the facing arrangement 13.

Cooperating with the feed dog 38 is a stationarily mounted throat plate 58 having appropriately shaped and located slots, individually and collectively designated 60, to accommodate each of the rows of fabricgripping teeth 42-54 projected upwardly therethrough and into gripping contact with the fabric 10, 19. Plate 58 also includes a centrally located rectangular opening 62 for the feed dog wall structure 54 which opening is of sufficient size for the wall structure and the edge 33 thereon to reciprocate therein as shown in FIG. 4. Opening 62 is also advantageously used as an exit opening for the bottom facing arrangement 13, a rearwardly located opening 64 in the plate 58 being used as an entrance opening for the arrangement 13.

The application of top and bottom facing 12, 13 to fabric 10 using blind stitching 14, 16 which cannot be detected from either side of the fabric 10 is advantageo usly applied using a needle-feed sewing machine. The'construction and mode of operation of this type of sewing machine is well understood, and for brevitys sake is thus only generally described herein, in connection with FIGS. 1, 7A and 7B. Specifically, as generally understood, the feed movements of the needles 2% and of the feed dog 38 are in four discrete steps. The first step consists of opposing descending and ascending movements as and 68 which are effective in causing the needles and feed dog to close upon the work lit) interposed therebetween. As a consequence, the gripping teeth of the feed dog engage the work, while the needles penetrate the work. The second step contemplates movement of the needles and of the feed dog in unison in a rearward direction 70 which, in an obvious manner, also carries the work being sewn in a feed direction away from the sewing station. The third step consists of ascending movement 72 in the needles and descending movement 74 in the feed dog, and thus their disengagement from the work. As a last step, the needles and feed dog are moved in unison in the direction 76 back to their respective starting positions and the needlefeed sewing operation, as just described, is then repeated.

A comparison of FIGS. 7A and '78 illustrates the movement of the feed dog 3% relative to the stationary throat plate 58 during the needle feed movement thereof as just described, lFlG. 7A illustrating the feed dog 38 at step 1 or at the start of a typical sewing interval, and FIG. 7B illustrating the feed dog at step 3 after it has carried the work being sewn rearwardly of the sewing station. While not shown, it will be understood that in accordance with known practice, the presser foot 28 moves in unison with the needles 26 during the movement traverses '70 and 76.

From what has been described, it should be readily appreciated that there has been described herein a noteworthy technique for blind stitching facing to a base fabric without any exposure of the stitching which secures said facing.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What is claimed is:

l. in a sewing machine of the needle-feed type adapted to produce blind stitched facing on opposite sides and along an edge of a fabric, a pair of spaced needles operating in unison, a presser-foot and a feed dog arranged in facing relation to each other, and each of said presser-foot and said feed dog having a blindstitch forming edge lying closely adjacent the path of travel of said needles, a stationery throat plate having an enlarged needle opening therein cooperating with said feed dog, said forming edge on said feed dog extending into and reciprocating within said enlarged opening facilitating movement of a facing material therethrough, at least two folders respectively designed to fold the edges of a first and a second arrangement of facing material to form in each said arrangement a top ply and under ply at each longitudinal edge thereof, a fabric feed means including the feed movement of said needles and of said feed dog in unison to contribute to the feeding of fabric in an interposed position between said first and second facing material arrangements to said needles, separate facing material feed means to feed said first and second facing material arrangements respectively around said blind-stitch forming edge of said presser-foot and around said blind-stitch forming edge of said feed dog in a path permitting each needle on its penetrating stroke, to enter and emerge from the lower surface of the respective under ply without penetrating the top ply of each said first and second facing material arrangements, said facing material arrange ment which is fed relative to said feed dog being threaded initially from the rear and then in a reverse direction through said feed dog so as to form a reverse curvature at said feed dog blind-stitch forming edge to thereby facilitate the selective penetration of said needles relative to the plies of said facing material arrangement, whereby both edges of the facing are blind stitched on opposite sides of a fabric fed between said presser-foot and said feed dog and each masks the blind stitching on the side of the fabric to which it is attached. 

1. In a sewing machine of the needle-feed type adapted to produce blind stitched facing on opposite sides and along an edge of a fabric, a pair of spaced needles operating in unison, a presser-foot and a feed dog arranged in facing relation to each other, and each of said presser-foot and said feed dog having a blind-stitch forming edge lying closely adjacent the path of travel of said needles, a stationery throat plate having an enlarged needle opening therein cooperating with said feed dog, said forming edge on said feed dog extending into and reciprocating within said enlarged opening facilitating movement of a facing material therethrough, at least two folders respectively designed to fold the edges of a first and a second arrangement of facing material to form in each said arrangement a top ply and under ply at each longitudinal edge thereof, a fabric feed means including the feed movement of said needles and of said feed dog in unison to contribute to the feeding of fabric in an interposed position between said first and second facing material arrangements to said needles, separate facing material feed means to feed said first and second facing material arrangements respectively around said blind-stitch forming edge of said presser-foot and around said blind-stitch forming edge of said feed dog in a path permitting each needle on its penetrating stroke, to enter and emerge from the lower surface of the respective under ply without penetrating the top ply of each said first and second facing material arrangements, said facing material arrangement which is fed relative to said feed dog being threaded initially from the rear and then in a reverse direction through said feed dog so as to form a reverse curvature at said feed dog blind-stitch forming edge to thereby facilitate the selective penetration of said needles relative to the plies of said facing material arrangement, whereby both edges of the facing are blind stitched on opposite sides of a fabric fed between said presser-foot and said feed dog and each masks the blind stitching on the side of the fabric to which it is attached. 